How to make Gelatin Bows & Flowers

Hi all,I have been summoned in to give a quick tutorial after the bow was posted yesterday. I'll give you a quick overview at this point (I have a TON of cake orders this weekend, so this is all I have time for right now - sorry...)

I have added a photo of the flowers, and Cindy posted a bow yesterday...

Basically, you mix 2 1/2 parts water and 1 part gelatin (unflavored - like Knox... NOT Jello! ) Warm in microwave, then let sit 5-10 minutes to allow the scum to raise to the top. Peel the scum off (photo below) then gelatin is ready to use (you'll need to rewarm to liquify at this point.)

Brush onto veining or texture sheet and let it sit for 3-5 hours... gelatin will release itself when it's completely dry. Once dry, you can cut w/ regular scissors, scrapbooking scissors, etc... For the bows, cut into strips, then use a small drop of gelatin to attach together. Add a paperclip to hold together 10-15 minutes until set, then they're done. To form the bow, place a quarter size bit of warm gelatin mix on a plate or pc of plastic... add the bows as you would assemble a g/p or fondant bow. Let the first layer set up, then add more warm gelatin in the center and add remaining bow loops.

I have a photo below of one of our texture sheets and showing the bow strips being cut.

Thank you for sharing! I visited your website this morning and am eager to order your flower and butterfly sheets. I can't wait for you to get them back in stock. Also, I would love to know when your book is released! Please post a message here for all of us here at CC.

Di,Thank you so much for taking the time and for sharing this great technique. All of us who wanted to know how to do this here on CC are so appreciative of your generosity to share this with us. What a a great bow! We are looking forward to your book - please let us know when we can get a copy.

Di,Thank you so much for taking the time and for sharing this great technique. All of us who wanted to know how to do this here on CC are so appreciative of your generosity to share this with us. What a a great bow! We are looking forward to your book - please let us know when we can get a copy.

You guys are funny! Guess I should've posted this here sooner to help w/ slow season... (seriously, I'm excited to show ppl all this new stuff we've come up with, but don't want to seem like I'm just doing it to push sales so that's why I hadn't posted anything b4.)

To color the gelatin (sorry, that was a main point I missed! OOPS!) - just use airbrush colors, or gel paste colors (like Americolor). You can add this to the water before mixing, or after dissolved. If you only have paste or pwd colors, then dissolve that in your water first to make sure it's not grainy when you add in the gelatin.

That is where my "trial and error" part came in. You don't want it thick, but you don't want it too thin either. If Di has a secret for determining that I hope she fills us in! (I made my first sheet too thick, the 2nd too thin, but the 3rd one was just right!!)

Nothing on the sheets - when the gelatin is dry - it literally pops off by itself! (when I made the butterflies, I had the sheet of them setting on the counter here beside me, and I could actually HEAR them releasing from the sheet!)